Abstract: This invention is a coated waveguide holder-humdifier which is used to supply moisture in the case of moisture sensitive reactions in order that quantitative results might be obtained with a gradient light analytical detector which will quantitatively measure atmospheric contaminants by comparing changes in light transmission through the coated waveguides before and after exposure. The coated waveguide holder-humidifier comprises a container, a porous material capable of absorbing water and desorbing water vapor mounted within the container, means to hold one or more waveguides within the container, and one or more openings in the container to allow fluid (liquid or gas) sample to contact a waveguide.

Abstract: Flame retardant protection has been demonstrated on cotton and on polyester-cotton materials by the product obtained from the reaction of cyanamide and PCl.sub.5 followed by reaction with anhydrous ammonia in excess of that required to react with the chlorine on the cyanamide and PCl.sub.5 intermediate product. Conveniently the material can be treated with an aqueous solution containing a sufficient amount of the new flame retardant compound and the material dried to make the material self extinguishing. Then the treated and dried material is cured at a sufficient temperature to bond the flame retardant to the material. Alternatively and usually preferably, the drying and curing can be accomplished as a single operation.

Abstract: Mixtures comprising compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is either NH.sub.2 or N=P(NH.sub.2).sub.3, provided at least one A is N=P(NH.sub.2).sub.3, have been found to be good flame-retardants for material made from cotton or polyester-cotton having about 30 to 70% by weight cotton. Conveniently the material can be treated with an aqueous solution containing a sufficient amount of said mixtures and the material dried to make the material self extinguishing. Then the treated and dried material is cured at a sufficient temperature to bond said compounds to the material. Alternatively and usually preferably the drying and curing can be accomplished as a single operation. The treatment solution can additionally contain auxiliary treatment agents to make the material more durable to washing.

Abstract: Polycrystalline silicon films useful in preparing solar cells primarily for terrestrial application are prepared by a plasma spraying process. A doped silicon powder is injected into a high temperature ionized gas (plasma) to become molten and to be sprayed onto a low-cost substrate. Upon cooling, a dense polycrystalline silicon film is obtained. A p-n junction is formed on the sprayed film by spray deposition, diffusion or ion implantation. A sprayed junction is produced by plasma spraying a thin layer of silicon of opposite polarity or type over the initially deposited doped film. In forming a diffused junction, dopant is applied over the surface of the initial plasma-sprayed film usually from the vapor phase and heat is used to cause the dopant to diffuse into the film to form a shallow layer of opposite polarity to that in the original film. A junction is also formed by implanting dopant ions in the surface of the originally deposited film by the use of electrical fields.

Abstract: A refractive index detector is described comprising a waveguide, means for contacting said waveguide with a fluid, a light source and means to transmit light into said waveguide, means for detecting light exiting from said waveguide as an indication of the refractive index of said fluid and means to automatically change the angle of incidence of the light entering said waveguide in response to changes of refractive index of said fluid. A preferred embodiment of the detector for use as a detector for gradient elution chromatography has means to indicate the rate of change of refractive index. A preferred means to automatically change the angle of incidence of the light entering the waveguide is a movable prism. It is preferred to use a monochromatic light source in the detector. It is preferred to provide reference means for the detector to compensate for changes in intensity of the light output from said light source.

Abstract: Flame retardant protection has been demonstrated on cotton and on polyester-cotton materials by the product obtained from the reaction of cyanamide and PCl.sub.5 followed by reaction with anhydrous ammonia in excess of that required to react with the chlorine on the cyanamide and PCl.sub.5 intermediate product. Conveniently the material can be treated with an aqueous solution containing a sufficient amount of the new flame retardant compound and the material dried to make the material self extinguishing. Then the treated and dried material is cured at a sufficient temperature to bond the flame retardant to the material. Alternatively and usually preferably, the drying and curing can be accomplished as a single operation.

Abstract: A device useful as a detector for fluid (liquid or gas) chromatograph effluent comprising a light source, a cell divided into sample and reference fluid compartments separated by an opaque diaphragm sufficiently thin to form a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern, means to introduce and remove sample and reference fluids to and from said compartments, means to collimate light from said light source at said diaphragm and through the compartments of said cell, photodetector means capable of sensing phase shift of said diffraction pattern, and means to focus light exiting said compartments on said photodetector. When used as a detector for chromatograph effluent the sample compartment should have a volume less than the smallest volume of eluted fractions from the chromatograph with which the device is used. An especially significant and novel feature of the device is the cell used in the refractometer.

Abstract: Mixtures comprising compounds of the formula ##EQU1## wherein A is either NH.sub.2 or N=P(NH.sub.2).sub.3, provided at least one A is N=P(NH.sub.2).sub.3, have been found to be good flame-retardants for material made from cotton or polyester-cotton having about 30 to 70% by weight cotton. Conveniently the material can be treated with an aqueous solution containing a sufficient amount of said mixtures and the material dried to make the material self extinguishing. Then the treated and dried material is cured at a sufficient temperature to bond said compounds to the material. Alternatively and usually preferably the drying and curing can be accomplished as a single operation.

Abstract: Large void-free castings of polyethylene can be made by blending high density polyethylene pellets with low density polyethylene powder, followed by heating to above the melting point of the low density polyethylene and below, or only slightly above, the melting point of the high density polyethylene. Flame proofing additives, crosslinking agents and other materials can be readily incorporated into the blend before fusing. The mixture of high density and low density polyethylene significantly reduces the amount of shrinkage which takes place during the cooling from the melting temperature to ambient temperature. The low density polyethylene should have a sufficiently low melt viscosity so that it will flow under small pressures above the melting temperature.

Abstract: By mixing one part of a prepolymer containing a polyamine partially polymerized with an organic epoxide and subsequently reacted with a fatty acid containing from 8 to 32 carbon atoms, and then reacting this prepolymer mixture with 3 parts of an organic epoxide, a composition was obtained which made a gas frothable, shear-stable, room temperature curing, low density foam. A particularly advantageous prepolymer was prepared using a polyamine selected from the group consisting of diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, and tetraethylenepentamine, partially polymerized with an organic epoxide having an average molecular weight of about 350 and having an epoxide equivalent of 185 to 192, and reacted with 2-10 weight percent linoleic acid.

Abstract: A process for rapidly producing a substantially uniform, solid, cellular thermoplastic article comprising the steps of: (a) charging a vessel with (1) a solid thermoplastic polymer, (2) a solvent mixture the amount of which in the range of from about 25-50% by weight of said polymer boils at or below 0.degree.C. and to prevent shrinkage the minor amount of which in the range of from about 3-30% by weight of said polymer boils at or near 20.degree.C.

Abstract: Intumescent compositions are described which when deposited on a substrate protect the substrate against heat and fire damage for an appreciable time, and these compositions are readily removed from the substrate by water washing or water scrubbing both before and after intumescing. Another advantage of these compositions is that they give off very little smoke when exposed to heat and fire. The most effective of these compositions comprise monoammonium phosphate and/or diammonium phosphate as a heat- and fireproofing agent, urea and/or cyanoguanidine (dicyandiamide) as a gas forming or gas generating agent to promote the intumescence, sucrose (sugar) together with the phosphate to promote initial intumescence at low temperature and titanium dioxide as a heat-reflecting agent. Certain possible alternatives to the compounds named above are also named.

Abstract: The new product, a Cl.sub.3 P=N--N=PCl.sub.3 + NH.sub.3 reaction product, has been found to be an excellent flameretardant for material made from cellulose such as cotton, paper and sponge; polyester, wool and blends thereof. Conveniently the material can be treated with an aqueous solution containing a sufficient amount of the product and the material dried to make the material self-extinguishing. Then the treated and dried material is cured at a sufficient temperature to bond the product to the material. Alternatively, and usually preferably, the drying and curing can be accomplished as a single operation.

Abstract: Aqueous foamable compositions can be used to suppress coal dust, especially respirable coal dust, i.e., coal dust having particle size less than about 10 microns. These compositions are composed principally of water with a minor amount of an interpolymer of:A. a polymerizable vinyl ester andB. a partial ester compound interpolymerizable therewith selected from the group consisting of partial esters of ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and anhydrides containing from 4-8 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof; said dicarboxylic acid or anhydride having up to half of its acidic hydrogen atoms replaced by lower alkyl groups of 1-8 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof to bind the coal dust and give body to the foam, and a minor amount of a detergent wetting agent to promote foaming and the wetting of the coal by water.These interpolymers bind the coal dust and reduce or prevent reacrosolation after the foam has collapsed. These interpolymers also serve to give body to the foam, i.e.